Tom Brady's last touchdown ball sells for $518,628, then he ‘unretired’

The sale went through hours before the NFL star announced he would prolong his playing career

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback and NFL great Tom Brady has retired after 22 seasons and seven Super Bowl wins. Getty

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski celebrate after beating Kansas City Chiefs to win the Super Bowl in 2021. AP

Tom Brady leaves the field after Tampa Bay's defeat to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL divisional round play-off on Sunday, January 23, 2022. AP

New England Patriots' Tom Brady raises the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Atlanta Falcons in overtime in the 2017 Super Bowl in Houston. AP

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the NFL Super Bowl victory over the Seattle Seahawks in 2015. The Patriots won 28-24. AP

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady raises the Vince Lombardi Trophy after they beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 24-21, in the 2005 Super Bowl. AP

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Tom Brady celebrate after defeating the Atlanta Falcons at the 2017 Super Bowl in Houston, Texas. AFP

Tom Brady after the Patriots beat the St Louis Rams 20-17 in Super Bowl XXXVI at the Louisiana Superdome, on Sunday, February 3, 2002. AP

Patriots' Tom Brady holds his daughter, Vivian, after the Super Bowl victory against the Los Angeles Rams in 2019, in Atlanta. The Patriots won 13-3. AP

Tampa Bay's Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski celebrate after winning the 2021 Super Bowl. AP

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady with head coach Bill Belichick after defeating the Miami Dolphins 41-13 in an NFL game in December 14, 2014. AP

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady waves during a photoshoot at University of Phoenix Stadium in 2008. AP

Patriots' Tom Brady embraces owner Robert Kraft after the 2019 Super Bowl win over the Los Angeles Rams in Atlanta. The Patriots won 13-3. AP

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians talks to quarterback Tom Brady before an NFL game against the Carolina Panthers in 2022. AP

New England Patriots quarterbacks Drew Bledsoe and Tom Brady in January, 2002. AP

Tom Brady with wife Gisele Bundchen in 2017. AP

Michigan quarterback Tom Brady behind coach Lloyd Carr after a 35-34 overtime win against Alabama at the FedEx Orange Bowl NCAA college game in Miami Gardens in January, 2000. AP

Sports fans around the world were filled with joy when Tom Brady announced he would delay his NFL retirement and return to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next season.

But for one undisclosed investor, the news was not entirely full of cheer.

Brady's last touchdown pass football was auctioned the day before the quarterback made his surprise announcement.

Bidding, through the US-based Lelands auction house, started at $100,000 and after 23 bids, it closed at $518,628.

While the seller will be thankful for 44-year-old Brady's timing, the buyer now owns a ball that is going to be worth considerably less as soon as Brady steps on the field and starts throwing again.

It is not clear if the buyer has paid for the football yet, or whether Lelands will force the buyer to proceed with the auctioned price.

Its terms and conditions state: "If payment is not received within 30 days after the date of the invoice, Lelands reserves the right, without further notice to the buyer, to (a) charge to the buyer’s credit card any balance remaining on the buyer’s invoice; and/or (b) resell any or all the items won by the buyer. In addition, a service charge of 1.5 per cent per month will be applied to any outstanding balance after 30 days."

The touchdown took place in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ home play-off loss to the Los Angeles Rams at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on January 23.

Brady’s 55-yard pass was caught by wide receiver Mike Evans, which cut the Rams’ lead to 27-20 with three minutes and 20 seconds left to play in the fourth quarter. Evans threw the ball into the stands, where it was caught by the consignor.

"It was only after the loss, and Brady’s stunning announcement a week later, that the true value of the piece became apparent," said Lelands in its lot description.

"Unlike other items used in the commission of a famous last event, this ball has dual significance because it was also used to establish Tom Brady’s record of 86 career play-off touchdowns. To put that number in its proper perspective, the player in second place, Joe Montana, has a total of 45. Like most of Brady’s passing records, it is a mark that will almost certainly stand the test of time."

Less than a year ago, Brady's first career touchdown ball sold for $428,841.

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